Nationalist Citizens' Party
Encyclopedia
The Nationalist Citizens' Party (NCP; Lapiang Makabansa) was a Philippine nationalist
party established by Claro M. Recto
and Lorenzo Tañada
in 1957. Recto became its presidential candidate for the 1957 presidential election
, where he was defeated, getting 9% of the vote. Tañada was eventually elected to the Senate under the party in 1959.
Ramon Magsaysay
's death in 1957, several members of his Nacionalista Party
(NP) became dissatisfied with Carlos P. Garcia
(Magsaysay's vice president who succeeded him). These members bolted out of the NP and established the Progressive Party
, while Recto and Tañada established the Nationalist Citizens' Party, with Recto resigning from the NP and merging with Tañada's Citizens' Party.
The NCP, with an anti-foreign platform, participated in the 1957 elections
and were defeated: Recto and Tañada came in at fourth place in the presidential and vice presidential elections
, respectively (they are elected separately) with 7% of the vote, behind Garcia (NP) and Diosdado Macapagal
(Liberal Party
). The nationalist undertaking was described as "an elitist undertaking, popular in the press... but largely ignored by the Filipino masses." While the NCP never "considered a broad democratic party," and was labeled as a "businessman's nationalism," they were able to influence Garcia's administration by adopting a "Filipino First policy" which favors Philippine-made products over foreign-made ones.
The cooperation between the NP and the NCP produced an appointment of Garcia of Recto to his cabinet, and an NP-NCP alliance for the 1959 Senate election, where Tañada won a Senate seat. However, Recto died in 1960, and nationalism and Garcia's Filipino First policy was branded by the Liberals as corrupt; Garcia and the NP lost the 1961 presidential and vice presidential elections
to Macapagal and Emmanuel Pelaez
.
Tañada would later be reelected to the Senate under the NCP banner in 1965 for the last time.
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
party established by Claro M. Recto
Claro M. Recto
Claro Mayo Recto, Jr. , was a Filipino politician, jurist, poet and one of the foremost statesmen of his generation...
and Lorenzo Tañada
Lorenzo Tañada
Lorenzo Martinez Tañada was a Filipino politician. Elected to the first Philippine Senate in 1947, he was the longest-serving senator in Philippine history. He served as a Philippine senator for 24 years.-Early life:...
in 1957. Recto became its presidential candidate for the 1957 presidential election
Philippine presidential election, 1957
Presidential, legislative and local elections were held on November 12, 1957 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Carlos P. Garcia won his opportunity to get a full term as President of the Philippines after the death of President Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash in March 1957. His running mate,...
, where he was defeated, getting 9% of the vote. Tañada was eventually elected to the Senate under the party in 1959.
History
With PresidentPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
's death in 1957, several members of his Nacionalista Party
Nacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
(NP) became dissatisfied with Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
(Magsaysay's vice president who succeeded him). These members bolted out of the NP and established the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Philippines)
The Progressive Party of the Philippines , also known as the Party for Philippine Progress, was a reformist political party that existed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. It is considered to be the earliest form of a genuine alternative party to the then-dominant political pair of the Nacionalista...
, while Recto and Tañada established the Nationalist Citizens' Party, with Recto resigning from the NP and merging with Tañada's Citizens' Party.
The NCP, with an anti-foreign platform, participated in the 1957 elections
Philippine general election, 1957
Senatorial elections were held on November 12, 1957 in the Philippines. The Nacionalista Party, despite losing two seats to the Liberal Party still held the Senate with twenty seats. The Liberals who won were actor Rogelio de la Rosa and former basketball player Ambrosio Padilla.-See...
and were defeated: Recto and Tañada came in at fourth place in the presidential and vice presidential elections
Philippine presidential election, 1957
Presidential, legislative and local elections were held on November 12, 1957 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Carlos P. Garcia won his opportunity to get a full term as President of the Philippines after the death of President Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash in March 1957. His running mate,...
, respectively (they are elected separately) with 7% of the vote, behind Garcia (NP) and Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
(Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
). The nationalist undertaking was described as "an elitist undertaking, popular in the press... but largely ignored by the Filipino masses." While the NCP never "considered a broad democratic party," and was labeled as a "businessman's nationalism," they were able to influence Garcia's administration by adopting a "Filipino First policy" which favors Philippine-made products over foreign-made ones.
The cooperation between the NP and the NCP produced an appointment of Garcia of Recto to his cabinet, and an NP-NCP alliance for the 1959 Senate election, where Tañada won a Senate seat. However, Recto died in 1960, and nationalism and Garcia's Filipino First policy was branded by the Liberals as corrupt; Garcia and the NP lost the 1961 presidential and vice presidential elections
Philippine presidential election, 1961
Presidential, legislative and local elections were held on November 14, 1961 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Carlos P. Garcia lost his opportunity for a second full term as President of the Philippines to Vice President President Diosdado Macapagal. His running mate, Senator Sergio Osmeña,...
to Macapagal and Emmanuel Pelaez
Emmanuel Pelaez
Emmanuel Neri Pelaez was a politician and Vice-President of the Philippines.-Early life and career:Pelaez was born in Medina, Misamis Oriental to Gregorio Pelaez, Sr. and Felipa Neri. He was fourth among eight children: Rosario, Concepcion, Gregorio Jr., Emmanuel, Jose Ma., Lourdes , Antonio, and...
.
Tañada would later be reelected to the Senate under the NCP banner in 1965 for the last time.